At media day, I asked Joe Dumars about the Pelicans’ sweeping FO changes. I clarified twice that I meant front office staff. He said, “I’m not sure who you’re talking about,” and answered about coaches. After I named medical and analytics, he cited alignment. Full exchange:

Context: The Pelicans made significant front office changes across multiple departments at the beginning of the summer, with dozens of roles being replaced.

That’s uhh…that’s definitely something

Must be hard talking to someone who genuinely has no clue what's going on

In fairness to Joe, you said “front office” over again without changing the term. When someone is clearly confused by your wording, you’d want to describe it using a different term or phrase. You just kept repeating “front office”, and he wasn’t on the same page at all.

I hear you. From my perspective it was confusing because I thought he couldn't hear me. It didn't occur to me he didn't understand front office since it isn't an obscure term... Especially given how significant and wide spread the changes were that were made.

Fair. From a guy like him who has been in the premium front office roles (GM, etc.), he may not even equate the rest of the team staff to that term. Not saying your term was wrong, but rather just explaining why he might come off so clueless here.

It's obvious he thought by "front office" you meant basketball operations, which didn't undergo any changes afaik

I did mean basketball operations. They underwent massive changes.

You said medical and analytics

I said front office. Which went through major changes. Only afterwards did I list those two examples, which are part of basketball operations and the front office. And they are not the only areas that saw major change. This is not some unclear or elusive definition.

On the Pelicans website, they have the strategy & analytics department and the medical department separated from the "basketball operations" department. He *should have* understood what you were saying. But I'm clearing up what was the obvious mistranslation imo

In basketball operations alone there were 14 people out, 14 new in. This is before we get to medical or other departments.

Oh gotcha nvm then. That dude's brain is friedddd

Damn shame the reporters know more about what’s going on than the GM. Great question Shamit.

This is the first time I’ve heard analytics and medical staff referred to as “front office”. I’ll bet it was the same for him.

I think it's fine. He legit just didn't know what you were referring to at first.

He answered your question. Whats the issue? The public isnt entitled to every deep detail behind the scenes. He gave you the answer literally any other Front office executive would've gave. What you wanted him to say they were dogshit at their jobs?

Sounds like the both of you were gracious to each other, he apologized after not understanding your question and you were grateful for the first part he answered.

Joe might have early onset dementia but “he’s one of us.”

help me be optimistic but we feel like we are in a deeply unserious place as a franchise at the moment

Joe Dumass is more like it tbh I just want a solid basketball team, man. why is that so fucking hard?

Who refers to medical staff as front office

Not saying he’s great at his job but you weren’t specific enough with your question and didn’t clarify. No one immediately thinks of analytics and medical staff when they think front office

He probably didn't feel like digging into that or just didn't want to. Lots of coaches and most players evade questions, but if you like your narrative of painting him to be an idiot, keep up the good work!

I mean they fired and hired a lot of people. I don't think he was trying to dodge the question, that portrayal is far less charitable.

Maybe, maybe not. It's just nearly impossible to believe someone with as much time spent in several facets of the NBA would truly NOT know the answer to your question

Not watching a game till he’s gone

Playing dumb

How is this nigga still Employed Jesus fucking Christ No fan base in modern basketball deserves shit except the Celtics, heat, pacers

Not sure anyone could be more aligned with the organization than Big Shot was

You weren’t being specific enough

I don’t know how you expect people to buy tickets listening to the leadership talk today. The real sad part is, once we start 5-15, they won’t be near a microphone again until the all star break after today. It’s not even gonna be Mosely’s fault. No coach wins with these clowns.

Even your clarification, wasn’t clear because when you say front office changes, medical staff is not considered to be front office that’s why he wasn’t sure how to answer you. Front office hire is like Amanda Green. You’re trying make as if Joe didn’t know how to answer yr ?

I'm really tired of all the Pelicans haters. What will you say when we make the playoffs this season?

So owners want to sell this team?

What a joke this franchise has been. Owner has no clue.

They were trash and they got dumped, next question

He is the worst GM in all of sports. Completely unqualified

Bruh @xavierjdesigns

It will be good when we finish dead last and don’t get the opportunity to get the 1st pick

I’m sure Joe is great and everything is peachy for NO, but as a UCLA fan, this gives Deshaun Foster vibes - say a lot of words saying really a whole lot of nothing. No vision shared (in this clip), just a vague “alignment”. UCLA is in brighter pastures with verbalized vision now.

Joe Dumbars

So he is low IQ?